Amid statistics of increased closures and Brexit fears, publicans continued to work closely with their communities and enjoy success this year. The Morning Advertiser looks back at seven uplifting moments from 2018.

Community thankyous

Fire sadly gutted and forced the closure of the Somers Town Coffee House pub in Euston in June. ​However, staff at the Yummy Co site were bolstered by support from the community and emergency services. They reopened the pub with a special ‘hard hat’ party​ to say thank you to everyone who had helped evacuate and then rebuild the site.

Similar appreciation for the community was shown after a fire devastated a historic pub in Essex and a crowdfunding page was created for its live-in staff​.

Overall, wet-led pubs enjoyed a boom in sales​ as punters headed to the pub to enjoy the warm weather and football games.

Christmas meals

With the advent of festive decorations and supermarkets’ adverts also came many stories of publicans considering how to give back to their communities this Christmas. From The Crown and Anchor pub in Kent​ to the Kingslodge Inn in Durham​, pubs are set to open their doors on Christmas day for those who need company.

“We were incredibly touched by the plight of older people whose lives are blighted by loneliness and felt it was our duty as an operator to step in to do something about this,” said The Inn Collection Group operations manager Paul Brown.

Sign-along

Licensee Noreen Tristram said she had learned Makaton sign language, which combines signs, symbols and speech, to communicate with the pub regular.

“He’s a lovely little boy and this is our way of doing something special,” she said.

Life savers

It's not every day bar staff face the situation of having to save a customer’s life. But when a pensioner went into cardiac arrest at the Blacksmith’s Arms in Naburn, York, pub staff were quick to act. They ultimately saved the customer’s life with a defibrillator​.

Fundraising successes

The World’s Biggest Pub Quiz​, organised by PubAid, raised a staggering estimated amount of £190,000. Close to 500 different charities - including the project’s partner charity Prostate Cancer UK - benefited from the quiz events. Organisers say they hope to smash this record​ next year.

The New World Trading Company took home three titles at this year’s Publican Awards​, but nipping at their heels was a new entrant to the competition, Brewhouse & Kitchen, which took home two titles. The winners represented the best of the business.